Tanzanian Opposition Parties Denounce Elections as Illegitimate, Cite Hundreds of Fatalities

Tanzanian opposition parties have denounced the country's recent elections as "completely illegitimate" and a "total sham," alleging that hundreds of people have been killed in a crackdown by security forces. The country's electoral commission declared President Samia Suluhu Hassan the winner with 98% of the vote, but the opposition party Chadema, which was banned from contesting the elections, has disputed the results. Chadema spokesman Deogratias Munishi stated, "You'll never have free, fair, transparent elections in Tanzania under the current legal framework." Speaking from neighboring Kenya, Munishi added, "These elections were completely illegitimate, they were a total sham." The opposition leader, Tundu Lissu, is currently on trial on treason charges. The elections were held on October 29, with President Hassan taking the oath of office on Monday. However, unlike previous inauguration ceremonies, there were no members of the public in attendance. Hassan claimed that the public supported her in overwhelming numbers at the polls. The electoral commission's declaration of her victory has been met with skepticism by the opposition. The opposition's allegations of a sham election and a deadly crackdown by security forces have been corroborated by reports from human rights groups. The situation in Tanzania has been tense since the elections, with protests and demonstrations taking place in several cities. Tanzania's electoral commission has maintained that the elections were free and fair, with President Hassan's victory being a reflection of the will of the Tanzanian people. However, the opposition's claims of electoral irregularities and human rights abuses have raised concerns about the country's democratic process. The current situation in Tanzania remains volatile, with the opposition calling for further protests and demonstrations. The international community has been monitoring the situation closely, with several countries issuing statements expressing concern about the human rights situation in Tanzania. The next developments in this situation are likely to be closely watched by the international community.